Private Counselling

Welcome to Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind

Counselling can mean lots of different things to different people. At its core though, counselling is a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you to help you to understand and effectively manage your emotional issues.

It may be that you're feeling upset, low or worried about something and just can't shake the feeling. You may feel 'stuck' at a point in life, and are unsure of the direction you want to go next. Perhaps you're tired of trying to please everyone else and need some time to consider your needs and wellbeing. Or maybe something just doesn't feel right but you can't quite figure out what and why that is.

We all have times in our lives when things don't go the way we expect, plan or want them to. It could be because something that happened in the past is happening now, or that you think might happen in the future. Or it may be that you've experienced trauma either as an adult or a child and you want to address the ongoing impact. Whatever it is, counselling could help you cope with whatever you are going through.

All our counsellors are qualified and are members of professional governing bodies that support and set standards around their professional development.

We've introduced the team below so you can understand what approaches they take and the different types of therapies they can offer.

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Angela White

I am a qualified Cognitive Behaviour Therapist with seven years clinical experience. I believe that we all need support at difficult times in our lives and recognise the strength required to reach out when we are struggling. CBT can offer a safe space for us to work together to first of all understand how you feel and then to focus on making improvements to reach your goals and return to what is important to you.

I have extensive experience of working with depression and anxiety, implementing the CBT model and evidence-based interventions, adapting this to most effectively meet your needs. I have worked in educational settings, wellbeing and with people with long term health conditions, and I realise the impact of study, life stressors and physical health can have on how you feel.

CBT can help with many difficulties, including depression and anxiety and more specific problems, such as health anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, panic and PTSD. We can work together to break down problems into separate parts, analysing your thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and making helpful changes to help you feel better.

BACP Accredited Member: 999328

Availability: Tuesday evenings

Dianne Bowden

I have been a counsellor/psychotherapist for over 16 years.I believe we all have the ability to heal & grow from whatever life has put in our way. By effectively working to help someone empower themself, I work as an eclectic therapist, tailoring every session to meet the uniqueness of each individual & not a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

Underpinned by a Person-Centred approach & through years of continual professional development, I have within my Counsellors ’toolkit’ a wealth of knowledge & experience to adapt to the needs of those ready to address their current obstacles for improved mental health & well-being. I work effectively in both brief & longer-term therapy.

Having always found myself being a respectful listener & responsive to others, I embarked on a search for more understanding on how to better help those looking for support. This led me on to the path into the counselling profession.

BACP Accredited Member: 582558

Availability: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings

Mike Walker

I am an accredited counsellor with more than 10 years clinical experience. I have a lived experience of anxiety and depression, PTSD and believe that recovery from mental health conditions is possible. I am a keen musician and song writer and believe this has helped me in my journey.

I have experience in a diverse range of services which support people with disability and long-term illness, survivors of sexual abuse, primary care mental health, drug and alcohol recovery. I work from an integrative approach using Transactional Analysis and Person Centred counselling. I am also eclectic bringing together skills and knowledge of Cognitive Behavioural and Solution Focused approaches.

I understand the value of counselling and the need to make a helpful relationship and safe space for clients to be able to explore and understand their issues. Through my approach I offer clients the opportunity to consider new perspectives and solutions to their experiences.

BACP Accredited Member: 594513

Availability: Wednesday evenings

Simon Asker

I'm a UKCP. accredited counsellor. I became a counsellor after having experienced personal therapy, realising the positive impact it had and has on my life. I wanted to offer the same opportunity to others.

I have trained in Relational Centered Counselling which is a broadly based talking therapy, its origins being in humanistic, existential, psychodynamic and psychoanalytic principles. Basically it means my work is co-creational, involving both the client and myself, developing a compassionate understanding of a client's issues on their path and journey in a safe and non-judgemental environment, working in the present while exploring the past. It's important that a client feels empathically heard and understood.

I feel that a fully supportive and non-judgemental approach, building trust and belief through the therapeutic relationship, is so important in the work I do with clients. It helps them to safely explore their individual issues as they work towards positive change in their lives.

I've worked in both the voluntary and private sectors, with clients experiencing a variety of sensitive issues on their life path and journey.

My areas of experience include anxiety issues, depression, abuse (sexual, mental and physical), identity issues, co-dependency, confidence, self esteem, sexuality issues.

UKCP accredited.

Availability: Mon & Weds: 9:30am-5pm and Thurs: 10:30am-5pm

Blanka Flanary-Lubina, MBACPA

I am a qualified therapeutic counsellor based in North Yorkshire. I qualified in person centred counselling in 2006 but I also incorporate other styles of therapy such as motivational interviewing, Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Transactional Analysis (TA) and Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) and I'm currently undertaking CBT training.

My extensive experience lies in longstanding work as a self-employed counsellor and also as a therapist with over a decade of full time experience in hospital and community based secondary care services in mental health.

I have a vast understanding and empathy for issues such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, personality disorders, ADHD, and autism as I work with these on a daily basis. I greatly understand struggles and challenges of families and friends with the above issues; therefore, I can offer advice and support.

I am able to incorporate a wide knowledge into my therapy. I have a great understanding and personal passion for health-related exercise and fitness as well as nutrition when dealing with eating disorders, depression, or lack of motivation. I can help clients who struggle with anxiety, phobias, workplace stresses, bereavement, and relationship issues as well as addiction and other self esteem issues.

My life experiences, and own personality can be very motivating to clients who seek encouragement and guidance as well as insight into their own issues.

I am bilingual, speaking Polish and English, who understands issues and cultures in both countries.

BACP Accredited Member: 388444

Availability: Monday - Friday evenings

Theresa Pink

I'm a qualified and accredited Counsellor and Interpersonal Psychotherapist. I have worked in the area of mental health for over 16 years, working in the Voluntary Sector, GP surgeries and various NHS settings.

I can work with a broad range of issues, and have supported clients experiencing; depression, anxiety, stress, bereavement and loss, relationship issues, childhood issues and trauma providing both short and long term therapy.

We all know that life can be difficult and challenging at times and it is not always easy to talk to those closest to you. This is when I believe counselling/therapy can be helpful. As a Counsellor/Therapist, I can offer the opportunity to talk about the difficulties you are facing in a confidential, safe and supportive environment, working together with you on your concerns and enabling you to gain understanding and make sense of how you're feeling, so that life can begin to feel easier.

Engaging in counselling/therapy provides the opportunity to be listened to with empathy, compassion and understanding, without judgement, as we work together to explore the difficulties you are facing.

The psychological treatments I can offer include counselling and Interpersonal Psychological Therapy (IPT) which is an evidence based treatment for depression.This is a structured therapy that centres on resolving interpersonal problems (relationships with others, family, friends, colleagues, partner) whilst exploring the life event that triggered your difficulties and aiming to improve your mood related symptoms within a 16 session therapy framework.

When faced with challenging life events and circumstances sometimes we need to reach out for support and I know seeking support can seem daunting and can take a lot of courage, but doing this is a huge step towards improving your overall well-being.

BACP Accredited Member: 21846

Availablity: Monday 10am - 2:30pm & Friday 11am - 2:30pm

Online Counselling with Realise

We are now taking referrals for our online counselling service. Sessions take place from your home or another safe and confidential space that you have access to using your PC or other mobile devices with the use of a camera and speaker. This service is online face-to-face using a secure link not an instant messaging service.

We hope this service will make counselling more accessible to eveyone and especially to those who may not be able to attend in person.

Online counselling could work for you if you:

Have challenging work patterns
Have difficulty accessing transport
Are a carer or parent
Have a disability or a long-term health condition
Live in a rural area
Have life situations that make it difficult to leave your home

Our aim is to make counselling convenient and flexible and give you the power to choose how you receive your support so it fits in with your commitments and lifestyle.

Sessions are 50 minutes long and will be constantly reviewed to reflect your needs.

Contact Us

Due to Covid 19 we are currently unable to offer face to face appointments but you can still access counselling through our online or telephone service.

If you would like to learn more you can contact us on 01642 257028.

If you would like to book a session then please complete the short form below.

We will then be in touch to schedule your appointment with the counsellor you have identified. If you don't have a preference for who you want to work with then please leave that part of the form blank and we'll assign you a counsellor.

Sessions are £45 each and last 50 minutes.

We ask that you pay in advance to secure the appointment.

Below is the online payment link for booked sessions. Please only submit a payment once you have spoken to a member of our team to make an appointment.

Payment for booked sessions

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Contact Details

Middlesbrough

Telephone: 01642 257020
IMPACT on Teesside: 01642 573924

Stockton

Telephone: 01642 796630
IMPACT on Teesside: 01642 573924

To support our work Text "SILVER" to 70450 to donate £5 - or any other amount

Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind is the business name of Middlesbrough Mind Limited. Registered Charity No. 1118098. Company Limited by Guarantee No. 5884630 in England.

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